Also, online bill payments approved for residents

The oil platform burns after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Springfield City Commissioners on Tuesday accepted $214,000 for economic damages from BP.

AP file photo

By ZACK McDONALD / The News Herald

Published: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 07:58 PM.

SPRINGFIELD — Only a few cities have yet to settle their BP oil spill claim in Bay County. Springfield joined those who have agreed not to further pursue litigation during Tuesday’s meeting.

Commissioners accepted $214,000 for economic damages from the company for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The agreement bars the city from pursuing any future economic claims against BP.

“It sounded like a reasonable amount for the city,” said Mayor Ralph Hammond. “We lost some revenue from the state funds but, as far as directly, I don’t believe we lost that much.”

After costs and attorney’s fees, the city will get about $158,600. The money goes into the general fund to be used as commissioners see fit. Hammond said it would be directed toward paying for the six firefighters hired after the Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO) threatened to downgrade the city’s fire resiliency rating. The city hired six firefighters and levied a fire assessment fee on the residents.

“We haven’t started collecting the fire assessment fee,” Hammond said. “We’re sort of tending the bill for six additional people we weren’t planning for in the budget.”

The settlement does not apply to federal fines eventually expected to be added into state and county budgets. Hammond said he has been getting city business in order before pursuing legislators on the subject.

SPRINGFIELD — Only a few cities have yet to settle their BP oil spill claim in Bay County. Springfield joined those who have agreed not to further pursue litigation during Tuesday’s meeting.

Commissioners accepted $214,000 for economic damages from the company for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The agreement bars the city from pursuing any future economic claims against BP.

“It sounded like a reasonable amount for the city,” said Mayor Ralph Hammond. “We lost some revenue from the state funds but, as far as directly, I don’t believe we lost that much.”

After costs and attorney’s fees, the city will get about $158,600. The money goes into the general fund to be used as commissioners see fit. Hammond said it would be directed toward paying for the six firefighters hired after the Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO) threatened to downgrade the city’s fire resiliency rating. The city hired six firefighters and levied a fire assessment fee on the residents.

“We haven’t started collecting the fire assessment fee,” Hammond said. “We’re sort of tending the bill for six additional people we weren’t planning for in the budget.”

The settlement does not apply to federal fines eventually expected to be added into state and county budgets. Hammond said he has been getting city business in order before pursuing legislators on the subject.

Online payments

Commissioners also took steps toward making the city more technology friendly for bill payments.

The city approved online utility payments with checks, debit and credit cards to begin after purchase, installation, setup and configuration. A date when the service will begin was unknown Tuesday. The cost of $195 a month would be paid by the citizens opting to use the service.

“What we came up with was $3 per credit card and $1.25 for checks,” said City Clerk Anne Andrews. “It’s a transaction fee charged right to the citizen.”

To install FlexiBill the city will foot the bill of $1,800 for installation and $300 for employee troubleshooting training on the program. The city still will issue bills in the same manner, Andrews said.

The city currently processes stacks of checks each month and pays a deposit fee of about 6 cents for each. Commissioners expect to recoup the installation cost over time through the savings, and the service gives residents flexibility for payment times and options.

“We’ve had question after question on this,” Hammond said. “Also, this will take probably 80 percent of the traffic out of City Hall.”

Commissioners agreed the bill payment situation on certain days was an issue.

“We could have three windows open on shut-off day and late day and still not be able keep up with traffic,” Hammond said. “So, it’s convenience to the citizens and very little cost when we take out the checks.”

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